Seismology

Seismology

The study of earthquake, seismic sources, and wave propagation through the Earth.

Contributors in Seismology

Seismology

An abrupt movement of geological materials downhill in response to gravity. Landslides can be triggered by an earthquake or other natural causes. Undersea landslides can cause tsunamis, such as the ...

Brittle-ductile transition

Earth science; Seismology

A zone within the Earth's crust that separates superjacent brittle rocks from subjacent ductile rocks. Commonly identified as the zone defining the deepest earthquakes in the crust.

Hot spot

Earth science; Seismology

A volcanic center, 100 to 200 kilometres across and persistent for at least a few tens of millions of years, thought to be the surface expression of a persistent rising plume of mantle material. Hot ...

Shield volcano

Earth science; Seismology

A volcano in the shape of a flattened dome, broad and low, built by flows of very fluid basaltic lava or by silicic ash flows.

Elastic wave

Earth science; Seismology

A wave that is propagated by some kind of elastic deformation, that is, a change in shape that disappears when the stresses are removed. A seismic wave is a type of elastic wave.

Spherical wave

Earth science; Seismology

A wave with rays that radiate out from the source like spokes.

Outer arc ridge

Earth science; Seismology

A zone landward from the trace of the subduction thrust fault of elevated sea floor probably related to the compression of the rocks in the accretionary wedge. Also referred to as the outer arc ...